Project GANGFACT has the goal of clarifying facts about gang life in the United States. In the national sample of confined adult and juvenile offenders, 39.9 percent (n=3,558) indicated that they had at some point in their life joined a gang. After summarizing the project's findings about gang life in modern America, this article discusses the importance of standards and policies regarding inmate classification. In the Model 1 Gang/STG Classification System, there are six different levels of classification for risk or threat from an absolute low value of "zero" to an absolute high value of five. Level 0 consists of anyone who has never joined a gang and who has no close friends and associates in gangs. Level 1 consists of those who have never joined a gang, but who may have between one to four close friends and associates who are in a gang. Level 2 consists of those who have never joined a gang, but who have five or more close friends and associates who are gang members. Level 3 is a person who has at one time joined a gang, but who has quit the gang life. Level 4 is someone who has joined a gang, is still an active member, but who has never held any position of rank or leadership in the gang. Level 5 is someone who has joined a gang, is still active in the gang, and has held a position of rank or leadership in the gang. The article concludes that the classification system has been effective in differentiating disciplinary violations, in preventing significant inmate violence, in identifying the risk inmates pose for carrying improvised weapons while in custody, and in identifying inmates likely to smuggle drugs into the institution. 8 tables and 6 notes